List of best-selling singles of the 2010s in the United Kingdom
| 2010s in music in the UK | |
| Number-one singles | |
| Number-one albums | |
| Best-selling singles | |
| Best-selling albums | |
| Summaries and charts 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
| ←2009 | 2020→ |
| Top 10 singles 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, , 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
| ←2009 | 2020→ |
For the purposes of calculating sales, a single is currently defined by the Official Charts Company (OCC) as either a 'single bundle' having no more than four tracks and not lasting longer than 25 minutes or one digital audio track not longer than 15 minutes with a minimum sale price of 40 pence.[2] The rules have changed many times as technology has developed, the most notable being the inclusion of digital downloads in 2004. During the 2010s, sales of singles have been monitored by the OCC and compiled weekly as the UK Singles Chart.
Since July 2014, the UK Singles Chart has been based on streaming figures as well as physical/digital purchases, however the OCC still compiles a 'sales' (only) chart and still quotes these traditional sales figures in its features and articles.[3]
As of June 2015, the biggest selling single in the UK since January 2010 is "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, which has sold 1,813,000 copies. "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Williams is the second best-selling single of the decade, followed by "Someone Like You" by Adele in third. The top five is completed by "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera at number four and "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra at number five.[1] As of October 2016, 36 singles released in the 2010s have sold over 1 million copies—the highest number to achieve this within the decade of their release (36 singles from the 1990s have also sold over 1 million copies, but only 26 had done so by the end of 1999).[4]
Best-selling singles
Sales figures (either from the OCC, Music Week or elsewhere) on the date given in the reference; where no reference is given, sales derived from OCC list on 19 June 2015.[1] The OCC differentiate 'chart sales' which include streaming from 'sales' which are downloads and physical purchases which are quoted below (see also List of most streamed songs in the United Kingdom).[5]
| No. | Single | Artist | Year | Copies sold |
Chart peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Happy" | Pharrell Williams | 2013 | 1,813,000 | 1 |
| 2 | "Blurred Lines" | Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams | 2013 | 1,630,000 | 1 |
| 3 | "Someone like You" | Adele | 2011 | 1,584,000[6] | 1 |
| 4 | "Uptown Funk" | Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars | 2014 | 1,530,000 | 1 |
| 5 | "Moves Like Jagger" | Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera | 2011 | 1,503,000 | 2 |
| 6 | "Somebody That I Used to Know" | Gotye featuring Kimbra | 2012 | 1,500,000[7] | 1 |
| 7 | "Wake Me Up" | Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc | 2013 | 1,460,000[7] | 1 |
| 8 | "Get Lucky" | Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams | 2013 | 1,436,000 | 1 |
| 9 | "We Found Love" | Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris | 2011 | 1,390,000[8] | 1 |
| 10 | "Call Me Maybe" | Carly Rae Jepsen | 2012 | 1,372,000[9] | 1 |
| 11 | "Just the Way You Are (Amazing)" | Bruno Mars | 2010 | 1,320,000[10] | 1 |
| 12 | "Impossible" | James Arthur | 2012 | 1,289,000[11] | 1 |
| 13 | "Gangnam Style" | Psy | 2012 | 1,270,000[12] | 1 |
| 14 | "Party Rock Anthem" | LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock | 2011 | 1,245,000+ | 1 |
| 15 | "Titanium" | David Guetta featuring Sia | 2012 | 1,245,000+ | 1 |
| 16 | "Rather Be" | Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne | 2014 | 1,268,000[13] | 1 |
| 17 | "Price Tag" | Jessie J featuring B.o.B | 2011 | 1,240,000[12] | 1 |
| 18 | "Love the Way You Lie" | Eminem featuring Rihanna | 2010 | 1,220,000[8] | 2 |
| 19 | "Let Her Go" | Passenger | 2013 | 1,180,000+ | 2 |
| 20 | "All of Me" | John Legend | 2013 | 1,180,000[14] | 2 |
| 21 | "Thinking Out Loud" | Ed Sheeran | 2014 | 1,130,000+[14] | 1 |
| 22 | "Only Girl (In the World)" | Rihanna | 2010 | 1,150,000[8] | 1 |
| 23 | "We Are Young" | fun. featuring Janelle Monáe | 2012 | 1,100,000+ | 1 |
| 24 | "A Team, TheThe A Team" | Ed Sheeran | 2011 | 1,070,000 | 3 |
| 25 | "Counting Stars" | OneRepublic | 2013 | 1,070,000[12] | 1 |
| 26 | "Diamonds" | Rihanna | 2012 | 1,070,000[8] | 1 |
| 27 | "Roar" | Katy Perry | 2013 | 1,050,000+ | 1 |
| 28 | "Firework" | Katy Perry | 2010 | 1,050,000[12] | 3 |
| 29 | "La La La" | Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith | 2013 | 1,040,000[12] | 1 |
| 30 | "Rolling in the Deep" | Adele | 2010 | 1,030,000[15] | 2 |
| 31 | "Give Me Everything" | Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer | 2011 | 1,010,000+ | 1 |
| 32 | "When We Collide" | Matt Cardle | 2010 | 1,010,000[11] | 1 |
| 33 | "Don't You Worry Child" | Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin | 2012 | 1,000,000[16] | 1 |
| 34 | "Jar of Hearts" | Christina Perri | 2011 | 1,000,000[17] | 4 |
| 35 | "Starships" | Nicki Minaj | 2012 | 1,000,000[18] | 2 |
| 36 | "What Makes You Beautiful" | One Direction | 2011 | 1,000,000[19] | 1 |
| 37 | "Fuck You!" | CeeLo Green | 2010 | 950,000+ | 1 |
| 38 | "Sexy and I Know It" | LMFAO | 2011 | 950,000+ | 5 |
| 39 | "Grenade" | Bruno Mars | 2010 | 987,000[10] | 1 |
| 40 | "Paradise" | Coldplay | 2011 | 965,500[20] | 1 |
November 2014 source for sales of "What Makes You Beautiful".[21] November 2015 source for sales of "Price Tag", "Counting Stars", "La La La" and "Gangnam Style".[12] December 2015 source for "Impossible" and "When We Collide".[11] June 2016 sales for "Paradise".[20]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Moss, Liv (19 June 2015). "Official Biggest Selling Singles of the decade so far revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Rules for Chart Eligibility: Singles" (PDF). London: Official Charts Company. April 2013. p. 4. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ↑ Lane, Dan (24 July 2014). "Clean Bandit's Rather Be hits 1 million UK sales!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- ↑ "The UK's million selling singles". Official Charts Company. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ↑ Kreisler, Lauren (22 June 2014). "UK's Official Singles Chart to include streaming data for first time". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- ↑ "Adele's 25 album records one of the biggest first day UK sales totals ever". Official Charts Company. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- 1 2 Myers, Justin (23 June 2016). "EU referendum special: The biggest selling singles by European acts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Myers, Justin (30 January 2016). "Rihanna's Official Top 40 biggest selling singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ↑ Jones, Alan (4 May 2015). "Official Charts Analysis: Blur's The Magic Whip debuts at No.1 with 43,746 sales". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
- 1 2 Myers, Justin (12 October 2016). "Bruno Mars' Official Top 10 biggest songs revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- 1 2 3 Myers, Justin (9 December 2015). "The biggest selling X Factor winner's singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Myers, Justin (24 October 2015). "Official Charts Quiz: Who sold more?". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ↑ Jones, Alan (11 November 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Clean Bandit end Little Mix's reign on top of the singles chart". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 12 November 2016. (subscription required (help)).
- 1 2 Myers, Justin (10 February 2016). "These are the UK's 20 biggest selling love ballads of all time". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ↑ Copsey, Rob (21 November 2015). "10 mind-blowing chart facts about Adele". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ Myers, Justin (25 April 2015). "Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud passes one million sales". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ↑ Copsey, Rob (14 February 2016). "Christina Perri's Jar of Hearts hits huge UK sales milestone". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ↑ Myers, Justin (14 July 2016). "Nicki Minaj's Starships hits massive UK sales milestone". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ↑ Myers, Justin (8 October 2016). "One Direction's What Makes You Beautiful is the UK's latest million-selling song". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- 1 2 Myers, Justin (6 February 2016). "Coldplay's Official Top 20 biggest selling songs revealed!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ↑ Myers, Justin (15 November 2014). "One Direction's Official Top 10 Biggest Selling Singles Revealed!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2015.